You only get so many undeveloped mountaintops, coastline, farms and forest, and once they are built on, they are gone forever.

Mainers will be asked to do what they have done many times in the past and preserve some of what we have left by approving a Land for Maine’s Future bond. We support this effort and advise you to vote “yes” on Question 3.

LMF began in 1987 with a bond issue passed overwhelmingly by Maine voters.

Since then it has protected more than 530,000 acres, including 293,000 in conservation easements. None was taken by eminent domain: Every single transaction involved a willing seller.

These lands are “closed to development” but they are far from closed. All of them are open to public activities like hunting, fishing or trapping, and working the forest is still permitted. The tracts include almost 1,100 miles of coastline and 7,100 acres of farmland.

LMF has a history of using state funds wisely, leveraging its contributions with local land trusts and private donations. The $9.7 million in the Question 3 bond would be matched dollar for dollar with federal money.

Even with this level of investment, Maine will be losing valuable ground in its most important resource — its quality of place. Tourism is our biggest industry, and people will not leave the strip malls and subdivisions back home to visit the same kind of development here.

Our natural environment, historic downtowns and working waterfronts are also an attraction for the people who are looking to locate a business. Mainers should protect this resource and again vote “yes” on the conservation bond.